Sometime in the early part of the 18th century an unknown French hymnist penned the words and music for “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” The hymn first appeared in a collection by John Francis Wade, priest of a private chapel, in 1751. At that time it was in Latin. Since that time over 40 different English translations have been made1.
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem Come and behold Him born the King of Angels
Refrain O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord
God of God, light of light eternal Lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb Son of the Father, begotten not created
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation Sing all ye citizens of heaven above Glory to God, glory in the Highest
Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born for our salvation Jesus to Thee be all glory given Word of the Father now in flesh appearing
Although this is a favourite Christmas carol, surprisingly, this hymn was not written for Christmas. Rather, Isaac Watts wrote the hymn as a paraphrase of the last five verses in Psalm 98 for his 1719 publication, The Psalms of David Imitated. In this hymnal, Watts rewrites many of the psalms using a Christological lens. His versification of Psalm 98 is no different. Verse nine of the psalm reads, “…let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.” Watts unapologetically interprets this as a reference to Christ. The theme of “Christ coming” made it an apt hymn to be sung at Christmastime, and it has since become one of the most beloved Christmas carols1. I haven’t included a video below as there are so many! Perhaps post your favourite 🙂 Have a blessed Christmas and Lord’s Day!
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let ev’ry heart prepare him room and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.
As we reach the eve of celebrating Christ’s birth, I was going to share the classic Christmas song Silent Night, however have decided to post Sovereign Grace’s new remake: Silent Night, Lonely Night. The traditional version tells of the night when Jesus was born (which my pastor, always jokingly adds, was probably far from silent!). This version, however, alludes to those saints who believed God that the Messiah would come, and yet not seeing what they believed. It also connects with those who have wondered if God is listening and will answer their prayers through trials and suffering. It’s a lovely rendition, and not a traditional Christmas song in the sense of speaking explicitly throughout of Christ’s birth, but is in the spirit of Advent – waiting for God to do what He has promised.
Silent night, lonely night All but calm, all but bright Darkened clouds have hidden God’s face Deepening doubts have veiled His grace Have You heard our cries? Have You heard our cries?
Silent night, lonely night Wearied by many trials Clinging to the promise foretold Peace and comfort for our souls Lord, we long for You Lord, we long for You
Refrain Jesus, You entered our night Bore our sorrows, laid down Your life Conquered the darkness and rose up in light All of our hope is in You
Silent night, lonely night Yet there’s peace, at Your side Covered by redeeming blood Sheltered in Your arms of love Christ, the Savior is born Christ, the Savior is born
Keith and Stuart Townend originally wrote “Joy Has Dawned” for a collection of hymns on the Apostle’s Creed. Like many carols, Stuart’s lyrics explain the Gospel story as the song develops. When they sing this song in church services they combine it with one of their favourite carols, “Angels We Have Heard on High.”1 Enjoy 🙂
Joy has dawned upon the world, Promised from creation— God’s salvation now unfurled, Hope for ev’ry nation. Not with fanfares from above, Not with scenes of glory, But a humble gift of love— Jesus born of Mary.
Sounds of wonder fill the sky With the songs of angels As the mighty Prince of Life Shelters in a stable. Hands that set each star in place, Shaped the earth in darkness, Cling now to a mother’s breast, Vuln’rable and helpless.
Shepherds bow before the Lamb, Gazing at the glory; Gifts of men from distant lands Prophesy the story. Gold—a King is born today, Incense—God is with us, Myrrh—His death will make a way, And by His blood He’ll win us.
Son of Adam, Son of heaven, Given as a ransom; Reconciling God and man, Christ, our mighty champion! What a Savior! What a Friend! What a glorious myst’ry! Once a babe in Bethlehem, Now the Lord of hist’ry.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing, Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was one of America’s greatest poets. Longfellow was born on February 27, 1807 and experienced quite a bit of tragedy. His first wife, Mary Potter, died suddenly while Longfellow was overseas. After a long and difficult courtship, he married Frances Appleton in 1843 and the couple had six children. In 1861, while sealing envelopes with hot wax, a flame caught Frances’ clothes on fire and she was burned beyond recovery; Longfellow fell into a deep depression after this event and threw himself into his work. On December 1, 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow received a telegram that his eldest son Charley had been severely wounded four days earlier in the Civil War. Longfellow found himself staring down another Christmas season as a widower, with five children dependent on him and now one child on the brink of death. Outside, he heard the Christmas bells ringing, and in the midst of his pain and hope he penned this poem1. Here is a modern rendition 🙂
I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail,The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
The carol was composed by American clergyman and hymnodist, John Henry Hopkins Jr. and appeared in his Carols, Hymns and Songs collection in 1872. Its original use was for an elaborate Nativity drama Hopkins was staging. It’s intended as an Epiphany carol, meaning it’s technically meant to be sung towards the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Epiphany is 6 January in 2023). The carol tells the story of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection – and the melody alternates between regal, minor-sounding Aeolian mode verses, in which the Three Wise Men announce what gifts they’re presenting to the son of God, and a major chorus joyfully proclaiming the beauty of the star guiding their way to the manger1.
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.
Refrain
3 Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh; prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high.
Refrain
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Refrain
Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
“The First Noel” has its roots in the fifteenth century in its oral form, and it appeared on eighteenth-century broadsides in Helston, near Cornwall (Keyte and Parrott, 1992, 482). It was published first in the revised edition of SomeAncient Christmas Carols (1823), edited by Davies Gilbert. Its publication in the famous Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833), compiled by William Sandys in London (Sandys, 1833, 74–75) increased the carol’s prominence. Originally in nine stanzas, five are commonly used in most hymnals today. Though the angels’ appearance to the shepherds (Luke 2:1–20) is the subject of the first stanza, most of the carol focuses on the journey of the magi (Matthew 2:1–12), giving the carol an Epiphany focus1.
The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star Shining in the East beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night.
Refrain
And by the light of that same star Three Wise men came from country far To seek for a King was their intent And to follow the star wherever it went. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest O’er Bethlehem it took its rest And there it did both Pause and stay Right o’er the place where Jesus lay.
Refrain
Then entered in those Wise men three Full reverently upon their knee And offered there in His presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Refrain
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made Heaven and earth of nought And with his blood mankind has bought.
This Medieval Latin carol was translated by John Mason Neale who was a very famous Anglican hymnologist. He was a student of hymns – he also wrote a few hymns, a few that we still sing today. But more than writing hymns, he collected hymns. He studied hymns from other cultures and languages. He translated them from their original languages into English and set them to tunes and produced various books of hymns. This particular hymn is known in both Latin and German and it first appeared in his hymnbook Carols for Christmastide in London, England, in 1853.1
Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ was born today. Ox and ass before him bow, And he is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice; Now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this! He has opened heaven’s door, And we are blest forevermore. Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice; Now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all To gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
On Christmas Eve in 1816 after reading in Luke chapter two of the heralding of the angels, prolific hymn writer James Montgomery began to write. At days end he had written a poem that appeared in his newspaper the following day. A blind songwriter and organist, Henry Smart, wrote a melody that was later used as a musical setting for Montgomery’s poem. The song was first sung in a Moravian Church in England, on Christmas day in 1821, and from that day on the world would have the wonderful carol, often heard at Christmas time, “Angels From the Realms of Glory.”1
Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; ye who sang creation’s story now proclaim Messiah’s birth
Refrain Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king.
Shepherds, in the field abiding, watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing; yonder shines the infant light:
Refrain
Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star
Though the roots of this carol are somewhat ambiguous, it seems to have been well known by the time Charles Dickens published his famous A Christmas Carol (1843) when Ebenezer Scrooge heard it being sung outside the door of his office on Christmas Eve. The most common version with eight stanzas appeared in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London, 1833) by William Sandys (1792-1874), the source upon which most hymnals have based their selection of stanzas. His collection included, according to the subtitle, “the most popular [carols] in the West of England, and the airs to which they are sung. Also specimens of French Provincial Carols.”1
God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember, Christ, our Saviour Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray
Refrain O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel, This blessed Babe was born And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn The which His Mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn
Refrain
From God our Heavenly Father A blessed Angel came; And unto certain Shepherds Brought tidings of the same: How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by Name.
Refrain
“Fear not then,” said the Angel, “Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of a pure Virgin bright, To free all those who trust in Him From Satan’s power and might.”
Refrain
The shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind: And went to Bethlehem straightway The Son of God to find.
Refrain
And when they came to Bethlehem Where our dear Saviour lay, They found Him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His Mother Mary kneeling down, Unto the Lord did pray.
Refrain
With sudden joy and gladness The shepherds were beguiled, To see the Babe if Israel, Before His mother mild, O then with joy and cheerfulness Rejoice, each mother’s child.
Refrain
Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All other doth deface.
Hymn of the Day 